The feel good story on the ABC dinner newscast last night was about a basketball player who has become a crossing guard. (You can see the story here.)

He is not just any basketball player but Hall of Fame NBA star Adrian Dantley. He had a very successful career and is most likely, a millionaire.

Sure, it’s a feel good story. Former Pro Ball player helps little kids cross the street in Silver Springs, Maryland. The undertone seemed to be that he was doing it for the love of the kids, not because he needs the money.

Frankly, I don’t get why that’s such a big deal. I doubt many crossing guards do it for the money. It’s a split shift part-time job at best. It’s appealing to folks who are retired or looking for part –time weekday work with little kids who are frequently friendlier than the average customer at McDonalds or Tim Horton’s.

But here’s a more important question: how did he get the job? How did he convince the hiring manager that he was motivated to do the job; that he was not going to get bored and move on to a nicer school down the road? Or worse, try to take the hiring manager’s job?

Since he is not likely to have to use basketball moves to defend the crossing zone, this seems like a major case of hiring someone who is way over qualified to do the job. I don’t have a problem with that. I just want to know what he said. How did he overcome that perpetual concern? That’s the real issue. He should write a book and go on a speaking tour. This is information that a large part of the work force needs to hear.

Oh wait, he can’t do speaking gigs – he might jeopardize his new job. Never mind.